⛩ Information on Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto
Disclaimer: some of these websites require knowing Japanese or using Google Translate, I am not fluent in Japanese
[19th Century "Goddess Uzume with Rooster and Mirror"]
🔴"Ame-No-Uzume" in the Encyclopedia of Shinto
🔴"Local Legend: Meeting and Marriage of Sarutahiko no Mikoto and Ame no Uzume no Mikoto" from Ministry of Land, Infrustructure, Transportation, and Tourism. Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo.
🔴 "About Amenouzume and her dance Including information on her blessings and shrines" from Mainomichi
🔴Info on Ame-no-Uzume from a Japanese Website
Amenouzume, Japan's oldest dancer, is considered the ancestral goddess of song and dance and is enshrined in many shrines. In addition, because she made the gods laugh when they hid in the Heavenly Rock Cave, she is also considered the ancestor of entertainers, comedians, and actors, and has come to be widely known as the "goddess of performing arts." She is also sometimes called the "goddess of fortune," "Otafuku," or "Okame."
🔴Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America
**The Washington State location was closed and transfered to Shin Mei Spiritual Center but the original website is still up.
天鈿女命. Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto is the wife of Sarutahiko-no-O-Kami. It was Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto who, through a dance, caused the Sun Goddess, Amaterasu-OmiKami, to emerge from a cave, thus restoring light once again to the earth. Sarutahiko-no-O-Kami, guardian Kami of the martial arts as well as courage and justice, is the ancestor of the earthly Kami and stands at the junction of earth and heaven, Tsubaki Grand Shrine in Mie, Japan. Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto, known as the fearless one, is the guardian Kami of art and entertainment, marriage, joy, harmony and meditation; her main shrine is also Tsubaki Grand Shrine in Mie, Japan.
Heavenly alarming female, strong (stout) tenacious hung around her Heavenly Club –Moss from Heavenly Mt. Kargu as the Obi made the heavenly spindle tree her Kanmuri/Kazura, made the Sasa as Suzu and made a sounding board Uke-Fusete before the door of the heavenly rock dwelling. She stamped her feet, and made the divine utterance of the Hi-Fu-Mi Norito.
Basic of the story of Amaterasu-OmiKami (Kami of the Sun) secluding herself in the Ame-no-Iwa-ya (rock dwelling/cave) to avoid further contamination/impurity after the encounter with her brother Susanao-no-Mikoto. The result was terrible for Heaven and Earth. Takama-no-Hara, the High Plain of Heaven, was obscure. With purifying sunlight removed from the Earth Plain many misfortunate occurrences arose. All the Heavenly Kami worked together to bring about the return of the source of light. The ancient texts deal with the actions, objects and potentialities assembled in great detail: jewels and a sacred mirror and a Hinoki palace were among the things made.
All the myriads of Kami assembled and it was then that Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto kindled many sacred bonfires, wrapped heavenly club moss around her as the Obi/sash, made the Kazura/head dress from the spindle tree, made the Sasa-ba/bamboo grass leaves into a bouquet, took into her hand a Hoko/spear wreathed in eulalia grass and danced the 1st archetypal Kagura on a sounding board (overturned wash tub) outside the door of the rock dwelling. During the performance of this dance she also invented the flute and koto. As she danced she made the divinely inspired utterance Kamu Gakari, recited the HI-FU-MI Norito and pulled her clothes open to expose her private parts. This dance has been discussed by Western scholars more than any other Shinwa (story of Kami-yo Kami-age).
Of course the uncovering action was one in a complex series of magical events. Western scholars have focused on this because of the Western society's discomfort/fascination with Women's bodies and sexuality in general. Another way to view the reason Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto showed her breasts is to remind Amatersu-OmiKami of her divine mission to nourish all life and exposing her belly was to remind Amaterasu-OmiKami that the Sun is the ultimate source of life for everything in Heaven and Earth. This divine dance made all the assembled Kami so happy they laughed, shouted and made "life sounds" as well as songs of praise. Then divine illumination was restored to Earth and Heaven. This episode is an example of Divine Female Power (generative power) and intelligence (life power) in progress with life process.
🔴Chiyo Jinja - Shiga Prefecture
Chiyo Shrine is dedicated to two Shinto gods, Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto and Sarutahiko, and has been designated as a nationally Important Cultural Property for the nagare-zukuri (streamlined gable style) of its main hall. The gods enshrined here are said to be the ancestor gods of the arts and performance. Chiyo Shrine also receives many visitors coming to visit this guardian shrine of the Ii family.
Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mitoko in particular is a deeply revered deity, and is worshipped as the ancestor god of acting and the arts. Even now, the shrine is visited by famous actors and those involved in the arts, who come to pray for improvement of their skills.
🔴Ota Jinja | located in Kamigamo Jinja, Kyoto Prefecture
Ota Jinja is located approximately 800 meters to the east of Kamigamo Jinja grounds and is dedicated to Ame no Uzume no Mikoto, a goddess from the famous myth about Amaterasu Omikami, the goddess of the sun. Amaterasu Omikami became angry with her brother Susanoo no Mikoto and shut herself in a cave, plunging the world into unending night. Other deities tried to convince her to come back outside, but all their attempts failed. Finally, Ame no Uzume no Mikoto performed a lively dance while others cheered, which made Amaterasu Omikami curious enough to exit the cave and bring sunlight back to the world. Because of this story, Ame no Uzume no Mikoto is primarily worshipped as a deity that helps improve artistic skills.
As a shrine, Ota Jinja is said to be even older than Kamigamo Jinja. Farmers worshipped a deity of good fortune and long life at a shrine on this site even before the Kamo clan that founded Kamigamo Jinja immigrated to the area in the sixth century. After Kamigamo Jinja grew in power and influence, Ota Jinja became one of its auxiliary shrines.
The Otanosawa Pond on the shrine grounds is renowned for kakitsubata, or rabbit-ear irises. They bloom in purple clusters in mid-May, covering the entire pond, and the sight attracts countless visitors. In 1945, the iris pond was designated a Natural Monument. The irises at Ota Jinja have been beloved for centuries and were mentioned in several ancient records and poems. A particularly famous poem written by the courtier Fujiwara Shunzei (1114–1204) reads: The sacred mountain / The irises of Ota Pond / People’s deepest wishes / Can be seen in their color.
The prayer hall at Ota Jinja is used for sato kagura, the oldest remaining style of sacred kagura dance. Sato kagura is accompanied by musicians playing cymbals and drums. The words used to describe the sounds of the cymbals and the drums are "chan" and "pon," which gave rise to the alternative name chanpon kagura. Sato kagura is performed as part of prayer ceremonies held at Ota Jinja on the night of the 10th of each month. It is a registered Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Kyoto.
🔴Geino Jinja | Located in Kurumazaki Jinja, Kyoto Prefecture
Why Do Celebrities Visit Geino Shrine? Geino Shrine is very famous because many Japanese celebrities have visited it. “Geino Shrine” means “a shrine for the entertainment world” and a goddess of entertainment, Ame no Uzume no Mikoto is worshipped here.
According to Japanese Mythology, there was a goddess of the Sun, Amaterasu-ōmikami, whose brother Susano-o no Mikoto was a troublemaker and always doing bad things. One day Amaterasu-ōmikami was furious with him and hid in a rock cave. Then the world became as dark as midnight. However, when Ame no Uzume no Mikoto performed a dance in front of the cave, Amaterasu-ōmikami came out to see her dance, and the sun returned to this world. This is why Ame no Uzume no Mikoto is said to be a goddess of entertainment.
In Geino Shrine, there are more than 2,000 vermillion fence boards called tamagaki, which are offerings from prayers. If you offer tamagaki to the shrine, your name will be written on it. When I visited the shrine, I was excited to find a lot of celebrities’ names there. If you want to be famous, offer tamagaki to the shrine. Your tamagaki will be kept there for two years, together with celebrities’ tamagaki. It is 10,000 yen (in 2017).
🔴Mendake Jinja - Nagasaki Prefecture
The goddess Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto is venerated at Mendake Shrine. She is the ancestral deity of Japanese performing arts, and so she is believed to bestow blessings on the arts as well as on marriages.
🔴Betsugu Tsubakigishi Jinja | Axillary Shrine of Tsubaki Grand Shrine, Mie Prefecture
Tsubakigishi Shrine enshrines Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto, the wife of Sarutahiko-no-Okami, as its main deity. It is revered as the ancestral god of performing arts, a god of pacification, a god of marital harmony, and a god of matchmaking, and also performs Shinto wedding ceremonies.
🔴Hinomikosha at Tokagushi Jinja - Nagano Prefecture
Founded around 1098, the shrine enshrines Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto, who danced in front of the rock cave, as its main deity, along with three other gods.
Even during the period of syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism, this shrine remained solely a Shinto shrine. The Togakushi Shrine Taidai Kagura has been passed down from ancient times by the shrine's attendants and continues to this day. The shrine is revered as the god of dance and performing arts, the god of matchmaking, and the god of fire prevention.
In recent years, the shrine has seen an increase in visitors, and within its grounds are the "Married Couple Cedars (Two Cedars)," which are over 500 years old, and the famous Saigyo Cherry Tree.
The deities enshrined at Togakushi Shrine are gods associated with the Japanese myth of "the opening of the Heavenly Rock Cave." It is said that the origin of "Kagura" (sacred dance and music) lies in the dance performed by Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto (the enshrined deity of Hino-Mikoto Shrine) in front of the rock cave to persuade Amaterasu-Omikami, who had hidden herself inside, to come out again.
The Taidai Kagura dance passed down at Togakushi Shrine consists of a total of 10 different dances (ten performances), including a dance to ward off evil and disaster, a dance in which the performer takes the form of a god who controls water and prays for a bountiful harvest, a dance by a charming shrine maiden, and a dance related to the opening of the Heavenly Rock Cave.
What is "Kagura"? It is a general term for songs and dances offered to the gods during Shinto shrine festivals. There are various types and traditions of Kagura, such as Takachiho Kagura in Kyushu, Izumo Kagura and Iwami Kagura in the Chugoku region, and Miko Kagura and Shishi Kagura passed down in various regions. The content also varies, from theatrical performances based on myths and legends to dances expressing wishes for a bountiful harvest, protection from misfortune, and good fortune.
The "dance" serves to appease the gods and also as a ritual for divine possession. The descendants of Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto, who danced in front of the rock cave, have participated in ceremonies and festivals at the imperial court and other shrines as miko (shrine maidens) who convey divine oracles to the people.
🔴Sarume Jinja | located within Sarutahiko Jinja, Mie Prefecture
Within the shrine grounds is the Sarume Shrine, where Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto, revered as the ancestral deity of actors, Kagura (sacred dance), performing arts, and appeasing spirits, is enshrined. [...] Sarume Shrine is constantly visited by people from the performing arts and sports world, as well as those praying for improvement in their skills. Furthermore, as the deity who mediated between the Amatsukami (heavenly gods) and Kunitsukami (earthly gods), she is also deeply revered as a god who brings about various good fortunes, and the shrine is bustling with many worshippers.
Ota Jinja located in Ushitenjin Jinja
Shin Mei Spiritual Centers 3 Shrines that enshrine Ame-No-Uzume
More may be listed in the Mainomichi website linked above
[Tsukioka Yoshitoshi 1879. "Color woodblock print, triptych. From a series illustrating significant episodes in Japanese history. The goddess Ame-no-uzume no mikoto performs a dance enticing the sun goddess Amaterasu out of the cave, and light is restored to the world (centre). The god Ame no Tajikara-o no mikoto rolling back the rock that Amaterasu used to block the cave (left). Leader of the earthly deities Sarutahiko-ôkami looking on (right)."]
🔴Good Posts from @tenjin-no-shinja Link ; Link ; Link
🔴Ame-No-Uzume-No-Mikoto Ofuda avaliable via Shin Mei's Center
Right is her Ofuda from Shin Mei Jinja Link. Left is her Ofuda from Betsugu Tsubakigishi Jinja Link
-Dyslexic not audio proof read-
